Five-time grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty's two-year wait to achieve World Championship glory is at hand as she headlines the field for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
As a 2-year-old, the Karakontie filly was a game third in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). With high expectations for her 3-year-old campaign, She Feels Pretty got stronger as the year went on. But after winning last year's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T), trainer Cherie DeVaux felt the turnaround time from the mid-October race to the Breeders' Cup was too short and opted to forego the World Championships at Del Mar. She Feels Pretty then capped her year with a win in the American Oaks (G1T).
Owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables and bred by Payson Stud, She Feels Pretty has never missed the board in 12 career starts (8-2-2).
When She Feels Pretty returned to the track this year, the Breeders' Cup was always the plan.
"It was the goal for her," DeVaux said. "And the Jacksons are great, where she wasn't doing her best or we didn't feel like she should run, everything we've done is with the filly's best interest in mind. Obviously, if she wins the Breeders' Cup it solidifies her as champion. ... For her, she's done so much this would just be the pinnacle of her career."
The Filly and Mare Turf presents a new challenge for She Feels Pretty, who has never run the race's 1 3/8-mile distance. Going three turns over the Del Mar turf provides a measure of unknown.
"Three turns is the question mark," DeVaux said. "She's run from 5 1/2 furlongs all the way up to a mile and a quarter. So she's versatile; she's really handled everything else. So I have faith in her and her versatility in that respect."
While She Feels Pretty leads the American contingent at Del Mar, the foreign-bred runners will present a heavy test.
Miguel Clement trainee Bellezza comes to Del Mar in fine form, most recently the impressive winner of the Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) in which she rallied from last and 14 lengths back.
The Moyglare Stud Farm homebred, who is by Siyouni and out of the Galileo mare Terrific, has had a pleasant first year in the United States, going 2-1-1 from four starts.
Clement said that Bellezza's adjustment to the States has been exceptional. She wintered at Payson Park in Florida, and during that time, the filly put on more than 100 pounds.
"She's my favorite filly to train," Clement said. "If you look at her, she's spectacular-looking. She trains like a colt. Physically, she's imposing. She's not at all like your stereotypical European filly—lightly framed, light of bone. She is the exact opposite. She looks like a colt. She's strong, she's powerful. She's got plenty of depth, presence. She eats like a colt. She takes an extra half bowl morning and night time compared to all the other horses in the barn."
Bred abroad but now racing in the U.S., Resolute Racing's Village Voice last won a group race two years ago until she pulled off a neck win in the Waya Stakes (G3T) earlier this month. It was her first race in nearly a year. Her last start before moving to Chad Brown's stable was a fourth in the 2024 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse.
The combination of trainer Charlie Appleby and owner/breeder Godolphin have won 11 Breeders' Cup races together and will try to add to that tally with Diamond Rain.
After six starts in England between last year and this, the daughter of Shamardal moved to North America in preparation for the Breeders' Cup. In her one start since crossing the Atlantic Ocean, Diamond Rain's late rally fell just short of overcoming She Feels Pretty in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine.
Another Godolphin-Appleby-Sharmardal runner that is sure to put her best foot forward is Cinderella's Dream. The 4-year-old filly finished second in this race last year by a half-length. Since then, she has gone 2-2-1 from six starts.
"You have to be respectful of the Europeans," DeVaux said. "Cinderella's Dream is, I think, the most formidable foe, but they're all very accomplished. All of the horses in the race are accomplished. I don't want to take anything away from them. (She Feels Pretty will) just have to continue to put in another top-level effort, which she's done every time she's run, even in defeat."
"It's not going to be easy, unfortunately, with these Euros," Clement said. "If (United States President Donald) Trump came out with something that says the Europeans can't come and he came up with a new tariff of some sort, I'd be the happiest guy there is."
